12:45 p.m.

The third quarter of the Wu hour.

An enormous bounty, unheard of in nearly six years, spread like a storm through all channels of [The Collection of a Thousand Evils]. The largest intermediary platform in the Sublimators' Dark Side World deducted a ten percent commission. Then, it conducted an all-region push in the eastern area of the Territory of Dongxia without holding anything back.

Death notices blanketed the sky. They transformed into pop-ups and short messages, appearing on the mobile phones of every registered person located in Dongxia, regardless of whether they were Sublimators, their place of employment, or who they were.

An even greater number of notifications weaved through the Darknet, radiating in all directions, delivering the high bounty announcement into the hands of every premium member.

Four hundred million US dollars!

Dozens of actuaries settled and delivered assets within half an hour. They converted the shares of a significant border commodity output into cash—not a cent more, not a cent less—and executed the transfer and acquisition.

A sum of money that could ensure a Sublimator a life of decadent luxury for the rest of their days had been injected into the bounty pool. As long as the target was brought to any location with Wi-Fi that could connect to [The Collection of a Thousand Evils], the money could be claimed.

When the pop-ups emerged on mobile phone screens, there was first a brief silence, followed immediately by a tumultuous wave.

Is it really so?

Three short minutes later, the cause and effect of the incident were laid out on Older Cousin's desk. Zhu Hongchen, astounded, looked over the report back and forth for a long time, unable to help but laugh mockingly at himself.

Should I say this is firm determination or reckless haste? But no matter what, it is utterly refreshing…

"Can you stop treating this as a spectacle?" Mo San sighed, throwing another stack of reports onto the desk in front of him. "Ten minutes ago, 'Electric Saw Ghoul' entered the Current Circumstances, and it's said that 'Eye of Nightmare' has also shown signs of activity. The Border Detector has also picked up on another six wanted felons and the abnormal movements of over sixteen Border Mercenary Groups. This is happening within Dongxia's territory and heading toward our jurisdiction! You can't have no reaction to that, right?"

"Reaction? What reaction is needed?" Older Cousin chuckled, turning back to look at her. "Isn't it just business as usual? Arrest the law-breakers and kill the guilty. If anyone dares resist, the missile and mortar teams will be on their case. Deliver those caught dead to Ji Xia for specimens, and those caught alive to Ji Xia for experiments. As for those who haven't broken any laws within Dongxia's territory, what can we do? Stop them from entering?"

"So we're just going to ignore everything?"

"Of course we're going to do something," Older Cousin twirled his lighter between his fingers. "As everyone knows, Dongxia forbids individuals from owning firearms and controlled knives… I really hope they won't bring any contraband."

With that, he couldn't help but laugh softly. "Oh, how I adore the young man, Huai Shi! Look at him. By himself, he has created so many collective third-class merits for us! We're all but guaranteed to have champions this year! Hurry and check if there's anyone who hasn't hitched a ride on this opportunity. Everyone should get in on it fast… once the fish run is over, it'll be harder to catch them."

In the midst of Older Cousin's cheerful laughter, the vast underground facility of the Jinling Social Security Bureau sprang to life, lights flickering on as hurried footsteps rushed in every direction.

The most powerful Sublimator enforcement organization in the eastern part of Dongxia had fully mobilized, bracing with anticipation.

And many more Sublimators, assassins, or Border Mercenary Groups—like flies over a cesspit, bamboo shoots after a spring rain, and customers outside supermarkets on Black Friday—continued to take action non-stop.

Lured by the enormous bounty of four hundred million, directly linkable to Source Crystals, they swarmed in!

「Half an hour later, in the wilderness.」

Huai Shi expressionlessly withdrew the axe from the forehead of the man who had just crawled out of the ground. He then turned around, sifted through the disarrayed corpses, and picked out a serviceable shotgun. He slung it over the saddle, took White Horse's reins, and continued forward.

On horseback, Ai Qing lifted her eyes to discern the sunlight, her demeanor calm.

"Jinling is not in this direction," she asked. "Aren't you taking me to the Astronomical Society? Desertion is a graver crime than murder; you are aware of that, right?"

Huai Shi kept walking, saying nothing.

"This is just the first batch to make a move. That cousin of mine, even if he doesn't personally take action, will surely set a bounty. More and more people will come knocking soon."

The woman on horseback lifted her gaze, staring directly at the sun as though she could see the multitude of satellites in low orbit aimed at them, and waved her hand slightly.

"Where do you plan to take me?" Ai Qing asked. "The nearest public border entry point from here is at least two hundred kilometers away. Or are you merely intent on eloping with me?"

Huai Shi ignored her.

She paused for a moment, her expression subtly changing, as if with a smile. "You know that I was supposed to be engaged today, right?"

"If I hadn't come, today you would be going to your funeral," Huai Shi replied indifferently. "Don't fantasize about some clichéd drama where someone blows up the axle of your wedding carriage. A woman like you is unmarriageable."

Ai Qing's expression remained undisturbed, and she simply asked calmly, "I just wanted to inquire about Mr. Huai Shi from the Astronomical Society's escape plan."

"It'd be better if you kept quiet." Huai Shi turned around and, for the first time since leaving the Yin family, looked directly into Ai Qing's eyes. He told her, word by word, "Stop talking."

Perhaps sensing the rage in those eyes, Ai Qing unusually chose to comply.

She stopped talking.

Or rather, she was already clear about the answer.

She raised her head, facing the wind blowing from afar, her long hair fluttering.

The wilderness seemed boundless, with no end in sight.

"Such freedom," Ai Qing murmured softly.

Even if this freedom was so fleeting and illusory.

In the distance, dust rose as an off-road vehicle crossed mountains and valleys, roaring towards them. It stopped in front of White Horse. The middle-aged man driving peered through the glass at the two figures, then looked down at his phone, comparing them with the photo on the screen.

He pushed open the car door and stepped out. He pulled a heavy long halberd from the back of the vehicle, grasped it in both hands, and blocked White Horse's path.

"Don't block the way," Huai Shi's hand rested on the Sword of Virtue.

"I was just lucky to be camping nearby; there are even more behind me," the man with the long halberd replied. "Even if I let you pass, you won't be able to get through."

"So you're not letting us through?"

"So, why not let me give it a try?"

A phantom materialized behind the Sublimator blocking their path. From its shell, a perfect copy of the Sublimator himself stepped out, holding an identical long halberd; there was no difference between them.

"Dongxia Genealogy · Tan Tai Jiao." The two figures, as though twins, spoke in unison, "If you really have the confidence to take her away, consider this a warm-up."

Huai Shi stepped forward, drawing the Sword of Virtue, and advanced towards the two phantoms that began to fade.

In that instant, two overlapping roars burst forth.

Thunderous music played as Tan Tai Jiao's two figures vanished from their spots. They plowed a profound crack in the ground, pointing straight at Huai Shi. The long halberds screamed, unleashing a piercing shriek from their nearly identical resonance.

A flash of steel, gone in an instant.

Huai Shi's wrist lifted; the sword blade descended, slicing forward.

He sheathed his sword.

Behind him, two figures slid to the ground, the long halberds in their hands and their chests simultaneously bursting open with a crack. Meanwhile, plasma sprayed through the air in front of Huai Shi.

The true Tan Tai Jiao stumbled backward, disbelieving how Huai Shi could see through the real duplicates created by the combination of his Soul Ability and the unpredictable Stigma.

"After you held your breath, the sound of your pulse got louder," Huai Shi lifted his hand and picked at his ear. "It vibrated so much it made my ears hurt."

Tan Tai Jiao paused, then smiled wryly and slumped to the ground, sitting.

"Thank you for sparing me."

"No, you're just too weak. I was still holding back," Huai Shi turned, took White Horse's reins, and continued forward. He heard Tan Tai Jiao's voice behind him, "There are more ahead of you, Huai Shi. You won't get far."

Huai Shi's footsteps halted momentarily, but he continued on without a word.

After crossing the stream, he saw the figure sitting on the bank, waiting for a long time.

Unexpectedly familiar.

Li Jian Amber.

The long-missed Teenage Girl covered her bento box lid, looked up, and smiled. "You know I'm a Border Hunter, right?"

"There are plenty of jobs," Huai Shi said. "It doesn't have to be this one."

Li Jian Amber shook her head. "But I really need the money."

"I can give you some." Huai Shi tried to negotiate. "Even if it's not enough for you, with my current status, I could still borrow quite a bit."

"Eh? You're going all out for your boss like this?" Li Jian Amber glanced at Ai Qing on horseback and smirked mischievously. "Unfortunately, I don't want money handed out as charity."

She slowly got up, carelessly hung her jacket on a nearby tree branch, revealing the sports vest underneath and the knife belt slung around her waist, holding two long swords and a wakizashi.

"Not going to wait any longer?" Huai Shi asked. "I did beat Luo Xian, you know. Are you sure about this?"

"A victory obtained through despicable tricks doesn't count. Don't get too cocky, Huai Shi," Li Jian Amber shook her head. Her thumb slowly pushed the tachi in its sheath out slightly, her smile growing sweeter. "Besides, there's no need to wait."

She said, "Because so many people came, we discussed it and decided to take turns… I'm the luckiest; I'm second."

Huai Shi laughed, scanning the surroundings. He barely made out several figures waiting in the depths of the dense forest, his gaze becoming mocking.

"So you're sure you've got me?"

"Yes," Li Jian Amber nodded, a clear sound bursting from the sheath, stinging Huai Shi's eardrums.

She declared, "I'm sure of it!"

In an instant, she was right in front of him.

That was a Yu Step, identical to Huai Shi's…

No, it was even more mature and efficient than Huai Shi's Yu Step. Combined with the footwork of Yingzhou Sword Art, it had already evolved into a different form. Discarding other irrelevant elements, only the most violent explosive force remained.

She channeled the strength of her entire body, focusing it into a single ray. This overwhelming power, far beyond ordinary imagination, was melded with skills honed through countless trials. In an instant, her sword was drawn. Across a distance of five steps, the blade, originally just over three feet long, instantly surged to over two meters as she slashed, its speed becoming ever more astonishing. It was as dazzling as a shooting star, a fleeting brilliance that tore at the retinas.

——Turn the Sky · Sword Dance in a Row!

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